Vertical conveyor device for various sized payloads

ABSTRACT

A vertical conveyor device to accommodate motor vehicles of varying height. Short and tall containers for motor vehicles alternate around a vertical carousel. When a container is placed in an accessible position, movable walkways and ramps change position allowing patrons and vehicles access to the containers. The position of the walkway and ramp vary depending on the height of the container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to vertical conveyor devices. More specifically, the invention relates to a vertical conveyor device that can accommodate motor vehicles of varying height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Urban congestion demands efficient land use.

[0003] Vertical storage devices for stacking and storing vehicles are known. Known systems include a series of platforms or containers that move in a circuit around an endless-loop type drive, or carousel. A location on the circuit serves as an access point. When a container reaches the access point, a vehicle can be either placed or removed from the platform of the container. Then the container moves away and another platform may be accessed via the access point.

[0004] Previous patents disclose vertical storage devices for motor vehicles.

[0005] Lichti U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,149 discloses a vertical conveyor for storing and conveying automobiles. Here, an endless chain in the shape of a race track is mounted and a plurality of platforms holding automobiles is connected and move about this race track frame. Lichti continues to refine that conveyor system in U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,442. The latter patent is a continuation of the former patent.

[0006] Vita U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,185 discloses a vertical vehicle parking structure containing a means for coordinating the operation of the tower lift.

[0007] Zhang et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,539 discloses a “maximum auto parking device.” This patent claims a stopping hole on a car pan to position a vehicle. This reference also teaches strengthening rods for the car pans, a position for a parking power control box, and the use of balance weights to assist in moving a carousel.

[0008] The height of passenger vehicles traditionally has been in a narrow range. Today, however, sport utility vehicles (SUV's) have come into fashion. Consequently, contemporary passenger vehicle heights vary greatly. For example, the year 2000 model Porsche 911 has a height of 51.4 inches, while the year 2000 model Range Rover has a height of 71.6 inches.

[0009] Presently, vertical conveyor systems either accept exclusively compact cars, thereby excluding SUV's, or accommodate most vehicle heights, thereby wasting precious space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vertical storage device to accommodate vehicles of varying sizes, by providing various sized storage containers with an adaptable means of vehicle access.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a walkway that can accommodate storage containers having platforms at varying heights, thereby providing safe access to the containers. The movable walkway allows free rotation of the platforms, and access by physically impaired patrons.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pan that self-bails accumulated rainwater and vehicle fluids.

[0013] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lateral tire guidance system, thereby assuring proper location of vehicles upon the platforms.

[0014] The present invention relates to a vertical vehicle storage device that efficiently accommodates motor vehicles of varied height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other objects and further features of the advantageous vertical conveyor device of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0016]FIG. 1 illustrated is a perspective view of a system in accordance with the invention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the access problem created by placing different sized containers around a vertical storage carousel;

[0018]FIG. 3a is a perspective view of a ramp-lifting assembly, with the ramp omitted;

[0019]FIG. 3b is a cross-sectional view of a ramp-lifting assembly;

[0020]FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a walkway-lifting assembly, with the walkway omitted;

[0021]FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of a walkway-lifting assembly.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a view of a platform curving upward in a fore/aft direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023]FIG. 1 illustrates a vertical conveyor system 10 for conveying containers of various sizes, and for solving the problem created by placing various sized containers 24 around a vertical storage carousel 22.

[0024]FIG. 2 illustrates the problem created by the use of different sized containers. The distance 6 between the end of the carousel conveyor 30 and the floor 32 of the garage remains the same despite the size of the container.

[0025] Therefore, tall containers 28 are flush with the floor 32, and an SUV has no problem accessing the pan of the tall container. However, when the carousel rotates and a short container 26 is presented for a shorter car, the pan of the short container 26 is suspended above the surface of the floor 32. To access the pan 16 (see FIG. 1), the present invention offers a ramp 12. Similarly, an elevated container presents a problem for passengers laterally accessing the pan. Hence, the present invention provides an analogous manner of access, a walkway 14. The walkway 14 allows passengers and drivers to step into their vehicles. The walkway 14 also provides the advantage of access for the handicapped and, thus, is helpful even accessing a tall container.

[0026] Installation of a ramp-lifting assembly 34, shown in FIGS. 3a and 3 b, and a walkway-lifting assembly, shown in FIGS. 4a and 4 b, requires placement of a pit 20 (see FIG. 1) below the containers 24. The dimensions of the pit are slightly larger than the dimensions of the pan 16.

[0027] The ramp-lifting assembly 34 includes a ramp 12, running the width of the pit 24. A ramp bracket 36 pivotally joins the ramp 12 to the top edge 38 of the ramp side wall, where the top edge meets the floor of the garage.

[0028] A carriage 40 is located inside the pit and is movably attached, in parallel, to the ramp side wall 42. A carriage ramp link 44 joins the carriage and the ramp. A first bracket 44 and second bracket 46 are used for attachment of the link. The first bracket 44 pivotally joins the carriage ramp link 44 to the ramp, and the second bracket 46 pivotally joins the carriage ramp link to the carriage.

[0029] A moving means for raising and lowering the ramp is located on the carriage 40. This means may be hydraulic or motorized. For illustrative purposes, here a motor 48 is used. The motor 48 is mounted in the approximate center of the carriage 40, and a speed reducer 50 is attached to the motor 48. A drive shaft 52 is attached to the speed reducer 50. The motor 48 translates motion through the speed reducer 50, thereby moving the drive shaft 52. Another moving means might allow direct attachment to the drive shaft.

[0030] The drive shaft 52 runs approximately the length of the carriage 40, and is mounted to the carriage 40 at both ends of the drive shaft 52 by first and second drive shaft brackets 54, 56, respectively. These brackets 54, 56 aid in holding the drive shaft 52 onto the carriage 40. The drive shaft 52 rotates freely within the first and second drive shaft brackets 54, 56. First and second ramp cams 58, 60 are attached to opposite ends of the drive shaft 52. Mounted to the walkway side wall are first and second roller plates 62, 64. The roller plates 62, 64 include a roller 66 and a plate 68. The plate 68 mounts the roller plate 62, 64 to the wall, and the roller 66 rolls over the ramp cams 58, 60. A vertical conveyor system may have a single ramp where a vehicle enters and exits, or the system may have a ramp-lifting assembly at both ends, thereby allowing access through either end.

[0031] The vertical conveyor system also has a walkway-lifting assembly 70, shown in FIGS. 4a and 4 b. The walkway-lifting assembly 70 serves a similar function as the ramp-lifting assembly 34 discussed above. However, the mechanics of the walkway-lifting assembly 70 differ from that of the ramp-lifting assembly 34. The walkway-lifting assembly 70 includes a walkway 14. The walkway 14 runs the entire length of the pit 20 (see FIG. 1). The walkway 14 is pivotally joined to the top edge 72 of the walkway side wall by a walkway bracket 74. A walkway roller 76 contacts the underside of the walkway. A walkway rod 78 is attached to the walkway roller 76 and the other end of the walkway rod is connected to a rod cam 80. The rod cam 80 contacts a walkway cam 82. The walkway cam 82 is attached to the drive shaft 52 on the ramp-lifting assembly 34. The carriage 40 is capable of lifting both a walkway 14 and a ramp 12, and the two structures are synchronously positioned.

[0032] The containers 24 positioned around the carousel 22 of the vertical conveyor system 10 include pans 16, which are suspended by supports 18 (see FIG. 1). In the case of short containers, the supports are short. Likewise, tall containers have long supports. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of short containers to tall containers will be equal, alternating short/tall around the carousel.

[0033] Another element of the present invention is a pit. A pit accommodates the mechanics of the walkway and ramp. Moreover, the pit makes possible additional enhancements to the vertical conveyor system.

[0034]FIG. 5 shows a pan 16 which assumes either an unloaded position 86, or a deflected position 84. The pan 16 is arched when no load rests upon it, and flattened when loaded with a vehicle.

[0035] The platform 16 is configured to maintain control of any fluids that may leak from the vehicles that the platform supports. These fluids may be water (melting snow or ice), antifreeze, oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. As the fluids may be explosive, they must not be captured or contained in a confined volume; rather the fluids should be kept in the open.

[0036] The platform 16 is provided around its periphery with a continuous rim 88 to hold the fluids. This rim 88 has been designed to be compliant with the American Disabilities Act, enabling unimpeded use of the platform by handicapped in wheelchairs. In a preferred embodiment, the height and floor area of the rim are such that a flat and horizontal platform can hold approximately forty-six gallons of fluids; when the platform is tilted one inch from level side to side the liquid capacity becomes thirty gallons.

[0037] During operation, the platform must be able to support vehicles that weigh up to 5,500 lbs; the average vehicle is estimated to weigh approximately 4,000-4,500 lbs. Actual load/deflection tests indicate that the platform will deflect one inch downward in the center under the weight of an average vehicle.

[0038] The shape of the platform when deformed results in a fluid holding capacity significantly reduced from the holding capacity when the platform is flat.

[0039] It is common practice to camber a structure so that, when loaded, it essentially lies flat. By manufacturing the platform in a circular upward shape, with an upward central rise of one inch, one forms a platform that will become basically flat when loaded with an average 4,000 lb vehicle. Thus, when the average vehicle is in place on the platform, it can hold thirty to forty-six gallons of fluid.

[0040] When being accessed, the platform 16 is positioned at bottom, dead center of the carousel 22. The platform 16 is positioned above the pit 20 which holds the patron walkway 14 and ramp 12 actuator mechanisms 70, 34. When the vehicle leaves the platform from this position, the platform reconfigures itself from the deflected (straight and horizontal) position 84 to the unloaded (cambered upward one inch) position 86. In this orientation, the platform has much less volumetric holding capacity and essentially discharges the bulk of its fluid into the pit as the vehicle leaves the platform. Calculations indicate that approximately 75% of the fluid volume is discharged in this fashion.

[0041] Furthermore, the platform drains itself at the preferred lowest position on the tower, without the need for active devices or drain plugs. When the next vehicle drives onto the platform, if there is no fluid released from it, there is a substantial surplus (75%) of fluid capacity which provides a relatively drip-free movement of the platforms as they rotate around the tower. Draining the platform at the lowest position minimizes possible sloshing and splashing of falling fluids from moving platforms.

[0042] To operate the vertical conveyor system a user first selects a container to access. The carousel rotates, presenting the selected container at an accessible position. Generally, this position is at the bottom of the carousel. Next, the walkway and ramp are moved into position. The height of the container dictates the precise positioning of the walkway and ramp. A conveyor system of the present invention normally includes both short and tall containers. Therefore, the ramp and walkways will move into one of two accessible positions, either a short container accessible position, or a tall container accessible position. With the ramps and walkways in position, vehicles and patrons may access the pan of the container. To allow access to other containers, the carousel once again rotates. However, before doing so, the walkway and ramps must be moved into neutral positions. For the walkway, the typical neutral position is within the pit. The ramp, in contrast, moves upward into a substantially vertical orientation. By way of summary, a walkway and ramp each have three possible positions: neutral position, a short container accessible position, and a tall container accessible position.

[0043] While the advantageous vertical conveyor of the present invention has been illustrated in specific preferred embodiments herein, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications of the advantageous device of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as stated in the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A vertical conveyer system comprising: a floor having a pit therein, wherein the pit is bounded by front and back ramp-side walls and a pair of parallel walkway-side walls; a ramp-lifting assembly attached to at least one of the ramp-side walls; a walkway-lifting assembly attached to at least one of the walkway-side walls; and a container comprising a pan and a set of load supports, the pan being suspended by the load supports and the container being positioned so that the pan is accessible to the floor and can travel over the ramp-lifting assembly and the walkway-lifting assembly.
 2. The vertical conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the ramp-lifting and walkway-lifting assemblies each have a means for positioning each assembly in several predetermined positions.
 3. The vertical conveyor system claim 2, the ramp-lifting assembly further comprising: a ramp having an underside and topside, the ramp extending lengthwise the width of the pit; a ramp bracket pivotally joining the ramp to the top edge of the ramp-side wall; a carriage movable and attached parallel to the ramp-side wall; a carriage-ramp link joining the carriage to the ramp; first and second linking brackets, the first bracket pivotally joining the carriage-ramp link to the ramp, and the second bracket pivotally joining the carriage-ramp link to the carriage; a moving means mounted on the carriage; a speed reducer attached to the motor; a drive shaft comprising first and second ends, the drive shaft attached to the moving means, the drive shaft extending approximately the length of the carriage; first and second drive shaft brackets, attached to the carriage, the drive shaft rotating freely within the first and second drive shaft brackets; first and second ramp cams, each ramp cam attached to opposite ends of the drive shaft where the ends exit the drive shaft brackets; and first and second roller plates, each roller plate comprising a roller and a plate, wherein a plate is mounted to a walkway-side wall and the roller rolls over a ramp cam.
 4. The vertical conveyor system of claim 3, wherein the moving means comprises: a motor mounted approximately in the center of the carriage, and a speed reducer attached in the motor and the drive shaft.
 5. The vertical conveyor system of claim 3, wherein the moving means is an hydraulic actuator.
 6. The vertical conveyor system of claim 2, wherein the ramp-lifting assembly is associated with the back ramp-side wall.
 7. The vertical conveyor system of claim 2, further comprising a second ramp-lifting assembly, wherein one wall is associated with the ramp-lifting assembly, and the other ramp side wall is associated with the second ramp-lifting assembly.
 8. The vertical conveyor system of claim 2, the walkway-lifting assembly further comprising: a walkway comprising an underside and a topside, and extending the length of the pit; a walkway bracket pivotally joining the ramp to the top edge if the walkway-side wall; a walkway roller contacting the underside of the walkway; a walkway rod having first and second ends, the walkway roller attached to the first end of the rod; a rod cam attached to the second end of the walkway rod; and a walkway cam attached to the drive shaft, whereby the rod cam contacts the walkway cam.
 9. The vertical conveyor system of claim 2, further comprising a second walkway-lifting assembly, wherein one walkway-side wall secures the walkway-lifting assembly, and the other walkway-side wall secures the second walkway lifting assembly.
 10. The vertical conveyor system of claim 2, further comprising: a carousel for vertically conveying a load; and a plurality of containers positioned on the carousel, each container capable of being moved into a position to receive a load onto the pan of that container.
 11. The vertical conveyor system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of containers comprises different containers some having short supports and some having long supports, the containers are short and tall, corresponding to their support lengths, wherein the pans of the short containers, when placed in a position to receive a load, are suspended above the side walls of the pit and the floor, and the pans of the tall containers when placed in a position to receive a load, are about even with the side walls of the pit and the floor.
 12. The vertical conveyor system of claim 1, wherein the center of the pan curves upwardly in its unloaded state, and lies flat when supporting a load.
 13. A method for storing various sized payloads comprising: providing a vertical conveyor system comprising (1) a floor having a pit therein, wherein the pit is bounded by front and back ramp-side walls and a pair of parallel walkway-side walls; (2) a ramp-lifting assembly attached to at least one of the ramp-side walls; (3) a walkway-lifting assembly attached to at least one of the walkway-side walls; and (4) a container comprising a pan and a set of load supports, the pan suspended by the load supports, and the container positioned whereby the pan is accessible to the floor by traveling over the ramp-lifting assembly and the walkway-lifting assembly; selecting a container; moving the selected container to an accessible position; determining the height of the container; moving the walkway and the ramp into an accessible position to accommodate a determined height; accessing the pan of the container; moving the walkway and the ramp into a neutral position; and moving the container to an unaccessible position.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the height of the container comprises choosing between a tall container and a short container.
 15. The method of claim 13, including moving the walkway up, from within the pit, to attain an accessible position, and moving the walkway down, into the pit, to attain a neutral position.
 16. The method of claim 13, including moving the ramp down from a generally vertical orientation to attain an accessible position, and moving the ramp up into a generally vertical orientation to attain a neutral position. 